DE102021104742B3 - Method and device for preparing a suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

Firstly, a method for producing a suspension is disclosed, in which plant parts are comminuted in portions and mixed with water in such a way that the water and the plant parts form the suspension and any marc remaining from the plant parts is separated from the suspension. Also disclosed is a device (1) for producing a suspension, with a mixing chamber (4) and a mixing element (5) in the mixing chamber (4) for mixing a portion of comminuted plant parts with water in such a way that the water and the plant parts form the suspension , and having an outlet (8) on the mixing chamber (4) for discharging the suspension from the mixing chamber (4) in such a way that a pomace remaining from the plant parts remains in the mixing chamber (4).
In order to speed up production, it is proposed that the plant parts be mashed into a paste while the water is forced through the paste and a filter (29) under an overpressure of 2 to 15 bar, which retains the pomace.

Description

Method and device for preparing a suspension.

The invention firstly relates to a method for producing a suspension, in which plant parts are comminuted in portions and mixed with water in such a way that the water and the plant parts form the suspension and any pomace remaining from the plant parts is separated from the suspension. The invention further relates to a device for producing a suspension, with a mixing chamber and a mixing element in the mixing chamber for mixing a portion of comminuted plant parts with water in such a way that the water and the plant parts form the suspension, and with an outlet on the mixing chamber for discharging the Suspension from the mixing chamber such that any pomace remaining from the plant parts remains in the mixing chamber.

A device of the aforementioned type, which also enables the aforementioned method to be carried out, is offered, for example, by Springlane GmbH, Düsseldorf/DE under the name “Mila almond milk maker”. The known device has a mixing chamber with a rotatable knife as a mixing element in it. To produce a suspension, the plant parts are placed in the mixing chamber and the water is placed in a storage container attached to the outside of the device. After closing the mixing chamber and switching on the device, the mixing chamber is heated up, the plant parts in it are chopped up by means of the knife and water is supplied from the reservoir. After the pomace has settled, the suspension is drained from the mixing chamber into a glass carafe, and then the pomace remaining in the mixing chamber is rinsed with water from the storage tank into an integrated collecting tank.

The production of the suspension with the known device is very time-consuming due to the necessary settling of the pomace. In addition, the suspension produced initially has a very high temperature when it exits the glass carafe and is only ready for consumption after a further waiting period.

U.S. 2010/0203209 A1 discloses a method of the aforementioned type for brewing coffee, with the mixing element firstly coffee powder and water being mixed into a paste and the paste being continuously stirred during a brewing time and then being pumped through a filter.

In the background of the invention is off EP 3 068 274 B1 discloses a similar device for making a drink using a powdered dietary supplement. The food supplement is placed there in portions from a rotatable magazine together with water in a removable mixing chamber and both are mixed with a mixing element integrated in the mixing chamber.

In the broader background of the invention suggests GB 790 969 A proposes a continuous process in which meat fed in via a hopper is chopped up and pumped into a mixing chamber, cooked in the mixing chamber with superheated steam and then separated again from the steam flow in a cyclone. Out of DE 697 00 474 T2 , AT 63446 E , DE 699 24 362 T2 and DE 21 06 420 C Methods for producing coffee and tea are known in which water is pressed through coffee powder or a tea preparation without using mixing elements.

task

The object of the invention is to accelerate the production of the suspension.

solution

Based on the known method, it is proposed according to the invention that the plant parts are mashed into a pulp, while the water is pressed through the pulp and a filter under an overpressure of 2 to 15 bar, which retains the pomace. The components of the plant parts - in particular starch and protein from it - are contained in the mashed porridge in high concentrations and are quickly washed out by the water flowing through the porridge. The production of the suspension is thus significantly accelerated.

In the known process, the mixing chamber always holds the full amount of the finished suspension. Since the plant parts are present according to the invention in a concentrated form as a paste in the mixing chamber, this and thus the size of a device for carrying out the method according to the invention can be significantly reduced compared to the prior art.

The inventive method is suitable for the production of milk substitutes based on protein and fat-containing real nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, chestnuts, macadamia, hemp and beechnuts, kernels such as almonds and coconut, cereals such as rice, oats, spelt and millet, other seeds such as Soy, peanuts, cashews, lupins, Brazil nuts, pecans and pistachios and mixtures thereof.

In a method according to the invention, the plant parts are mashed while the water is pressed through the resulting pulp. In the mixing chamber, which is smaller than in the prior art, the mixing element is in significantly more intensive contact with the plant parts. The production of the pulp and the suspension is thus further accelerated. The parts of the plant can be mashed in the mixing chamber before being subjected to the water in order to achieve a defined consistency. Furthermore, a ready-made slurry can be added to the mixing chamber.

In a method according to the invention, the pulp preferably flows turbulently over the filter. This prevents the marc from depositing on the filter.

In such a method according to the invention, the plant parts preferably comprise dry components such as shells, casings, husks, husks or awns. The dry ingredients favor the cleaning action of the slurry flowing over the filter.

In a method according to the invention, the water and/or the pulp are preferably heated. The higher temperature favors the washing out of the components of the plant parts into the suspension. Furthermore, the suspension can be produced directly as a hot drink.

In a method according to the invention, an emulsifier is preferably added to the suspension. The emulsifier promotes the formation of small fat droplets in the water and counteracts the suspension from separating. In a method according to the invention, the fat droplets can be part of the plant parts - for example in the case of nuts. Soy lecithin, for example, can be used as an emulsifier.

More preferably, an oil is added to the suspension in a method according to the invention. The fat content of the suspension can be increased by adding oil.

In a method according to the invention, the plant parts can be at least partially swollen, germinated, malted, fermented, treated enzymatically, roasted and/or burned. The individual pre-treatment of plant parts influences the ingredients and taste of the suspension.

Based on the known device, it is proposed according to the invention that the mixing chamber, apart from the outlet and an inlet for the water, be pressure-tight in such a way that the water from the inlet can be pressed through the mixing chamber to the outlet under an overpressure of 2 to 15 bar , and that the mixing chamber has a filter for retaining the pomace upstream of the outlet. The device according to the invention allows one of the aforementioned methods according to the invention to be carried out and is equally distinguished by the advantages mentioned there.

In a device according to the invention, the filter is preferably a perforated sheet metal. On the one hand, a perforated metal sheet can be well adapted to the method according to the invention that is desired in each case—by selecting the number and geometry of the holes. For example, the cross-section of the metal sheet through which flow occurs influences the dwell time of the suspension in the mixing chamber. On the other hand, the smooth surface of the sheet makes it easier to clean. Alternatively, the filter may be, for example, a wire screen, cloth or fleece, or a combination of the alternatives.

Preferably, in a device according to the invention, the mixing element creates a flow of the pulp over the filter. The mixing element thus fulfills a dual technical function. Alternatively or additionally, the flow of the pulp can be induced by selectively injecting the water into the mixing chamber.

A device according to the invention preferably has a pressure pump for the water. The water can then be supplied to the device without pressure. The pressure pump can in particular be a piston pump. Alternatively, the pressure pump can be a peristaltic pump. Such a device according to the invention requires particularly little maintenance. As a further alternative, the water can be supplied to the device from a pressurized system, for example directly from the public drinking water network.

Such a device according to the invention preferably has a reservoir for the water. The reservoir can be permanently integrated into the device or it can be removable.

example

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in isometrischer Darstellung,
• 2 drei Ansichten der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in Normalprojektion,
• 3 ein Schnitt durch die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung und
• 4 ein Detail der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment. Show it

• 1 a device according to the invention in an isometric representation,
• 2 three views of the device according to the invention in normal projection,
• 3 a section through the device according to the invention and
• 4 a detail of the device according to the invention.

In the 1 The device 1 according to the invention shown has a reservoir 3 for water in a housing 2, a mixing chamber 4 with a mixing element 5, a drive 6 for the mixing element 5 and a pressure pump 7 for pumping the water from the reservoir 3 into the mixing chamber 4 and an outlet 8 for discharging a suspension, not shown, from the mixing chamber 4.

The reservoir 3 consists of transparent plastic and has a circular-cylindrical shape with a diameter 9 of 100 mm, a height 10 of 200 mm and a wall thickness of 3 mm, not shown, and a removable cover 11 . The reservoir 3 can be removed from a lower part 12 of the housing 2 and has a valve (not shown) on its base 13 which tightly closes the removed reservoir 3 and opens after it has been placed on the lower part 12 .

The lower part 12 has a cuboid basic shape with a height 14 of 100 mm, a length 15 of 220 mm and a width 16 of 100 mm, which is rounded at both ends 17 with cylinder surfaces with the diameter 9 of the reservoir 3 . At the rear end 17 , the lower part 12 accommodates the reservoir 3 on its upper side 18 .

The lower part 12 has a removable pomace container 20 on a side face 19 . The pulp container 20 is made of transparent plastic and has the shape of a half cylinder cut along its longitudinal axis with a height 21 of 90 mm and a diameter 22 of 70 mm.

On the front side 23, the lower part 12 has a cylindrical attachment 24 on the upper side 18 with the diameter 9 of the storage container 3 and a height 25 of 70 mm, in which the mixing chamber 4 is located. The attachment 24 continues upwards in a cover 26 with a height 27 of 30 mm. The lid 26 is firmly connected to the attachment 24 in a hinge 28 and can be folded to form the storage container 3 .

In the cover 26 there is a filter 29 which, when the cover 26 is closed, closes the mixing chamber 4 in a pressure-tight manner. The filter 29 consists of sheet steel and has approximately 200 holes 30 with a diameter of 0.3 mm. In the cover 26 there is a collection chamber 31 above the filter, which opens into the outlet 8 in a nose 32 attached to the front of the cover 26 .

In the lower part 12, a water line (not shown) leads from the valve of the reservoir 3 via the pressure pump 7 into the mixing chamber 4. The pressure pump 7 is an electric piston pump with a pump capacity of 650 ml/min at a maximum outlet pressure of 15 bar.

In the lower part 12, a pomace channel (not shown) also leads from the bottom 33 of the mixing chamber 4 into the pomace container 20. The pomace channel is closed during operation by means of a valve flap (not shown) on the mixing chamber 4. Finally, in the lower part 12 below the mixing chamber 4, as the drive 6 for the mixing element 5, is an electric motor with an output of 600 W at a speed of 20,000 rpm and a control unit (not shown), as well as a toggle switch 35 on the side surface 34 facing away from the pulp container 20 arranged.

The mixing element 5 in the mixing chamber 4 is a wing blade made of a stamped and bent sheet steel with two wings 36 bent downwards and two wings 36 bent upwards. Additional vortex surfaces are located on the rear edges in the direction of rotation 37 of the wings 36 bent upwards and facing the filter 29 38 formed. A heating element 39 is also attached to the water line.

To start up the device 1 according to the invention and to carry out a method according to the invention, the storage container 3 is first filled with water and placed on the lower part 12 . This opens the valve and floods the water line with water. A sensor, not shown, on the water line reports the water level to the control unit. A prepared portion of plant parts, namely 40 g of almonds, is then placed in the open mixing chamber 4 and the mixing chamber 4 is closed by means of the cover 26 .

A sensor, not shown, on the cover 26 reports the pressure-tight closure of the mixing chamber 4 to the control unit, which first chops and crushes the plant parts dry for a period of 5 s using the mixing element 5 and then, with the mixing element 5 still rotating, using the pressure pump 7 150 ml Water pumps into the mixing chamber 4.

As the water flows through the pulp, the starch and proteins contained in it are dissolved, forming a suspension. Fats from the porridge are distributed as tiny droplets in the flowing water. The vortex surfaces 38 on the mixing element 5 prevent the remaining pomace from being deposited on the filter 29. The suspension penetrates through the filter 29 and the collection chamber 31 from the outlet 8 and is collected in a drinking vessel, not shown.

Then, while the mixing element 5 continues to rotate and the pressure pump 7 is running, the valve flap to the pomace channel is opened and the pomace remaining in the mixing chamber 4 and on the filter 29 is flushed into the pomace container 20 .

If other parts of the plant are used, the amounts and times given for preparing the suspension may differ and/or the dry chopping at the beginning before the water is added may be omitted. In order to produce a hot beverage, the water can be continuously heated up to 80° C. by means of the heating element 39 .

1

Vorrichtung

2

Gehäuse

3

Vorratsbehälter

4

Mischkammer

5

Mischelement

6

Antrieb

7

Druckpumpe

8

Auslass

9

Durchmesser des Vorratsbehälters

10

Höhe des Vorratsbehälters

11

Deckel des Vorratsbehälters

12

Unterteil des Gehäuses

13

Boden des Vorratsbehälters

14

Höhe des Unterteils

15

Länge des Unterteils

16

Breite des Unterteils

17

Ende des Unterteils

18

Oberseite des Unterteils

19

Seitenfläche

20

Tresterbehälter

21

Höhe des Tresterbehälters

22

Durchmesser des Tresterbehälters

23

Vorderseite des Unterteils

24

Aufsatz

25

Höhe des Aufsatzes

26

Deckel

27

Höhe des Deckels

28

Scharnier

29

Filter

30

Loch

31

Sammelkammer

32

Nase

33

Boden der Mischkammer

34

Seitenfläche

35

Kippschalter

36

Flügel

37

Drehrichtung des Mischelements

38

Wirbelfläche

39

Heizelement

In the figures are

1

contraption

2

Housing

3

reservoir

4

mixing chamber

5

mixing element

6

drive

7

pressure pump

8th

outlet

9

reservoir diameter

10

height of the reservoir

11

reservoir lid

12

lower part of the housing

13

bottom of the reservoir

14

height of the base

15

length of the bottom

16

width of the base

17

end of the bottom

18

top of the bottom

19

side face

20

pulp container

21

Height of the pulp container

22

Diameter of the pulp container

23

front of the base

24

essay

25

height of the essay

26

lid

27

height of the lid

28

hinge

29

filter

30

Hole

31

collection chamber

32

Nose

33

bottom of the mixing chamber

34

side face

35

toggle switch

36

wing

37

Direction of rotation of the mixing element

38

vortex surface

39

heating element

Claims (9)

A method for producing a suspension, in which plant parts are comminuted in portions and mixed with water in such a way that the water and the plant parts form the suspension and any pomace remaining from the plant parts is separated from the suspension, characterized in that the plant parts are mashed to form a paste , while the water is forced through the pulp and a filter (29) which retains the pomace, under an overpressure of 2 to 15 bar. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pulp flows turbulently over the filter (29). Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the plant parts comprise dry components such as shells, casings, husks, husks or awns. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water and/or the slurry are heated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an emulsifier and/or an oil is added to the suspension. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant parts are at least partially malted and/or burned. Device (1) for producing a suspension, with a mixing chamber (4) and a mixing element (5) in the mixing chamber (4) for mixing a portion of comminuted plant parts with water in such a way that the water and the plant parts form the suspension, and with a Outlet (8) on the mixing chamber (4) for discharging the suspension from the mixing chamber (4) in such a way that one of marc remaining on the plant parts remains in the mixing chamber (4), characterized in that the mixing chamber (4) is pressure-tight, apart from the outlet (8) and an inlet for the water, so that the water from the inlet flows through the mixing chamber (4) can be pressed to the outlet (8) under an overpressure of 2 to 15 bar, and that the mixing chamber (4) in front of the outlet (8) has a filter (29) for retaining the pomace, preferably a perforated metal sheet, with more preferably the Mixing element (5) generates a flow of pulp over the filter (29). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a pressure pump (7) for the water, preferably a piston pump. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by a storage tank (3) for the water.

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